ICE split with President Donald Trump. (Trump-Vance Transition Team, ICE)
But, Executive Director at the Center for Immigration Studies Mark Krikorian clapped back at the idea that Trump was "backing down."
"I didn't think that's what Trump is saying – rather, based on his Truth Social post, he was saying ICE won't have to do at-large arrests if Minnesota changes its sanctuary policies and allows ICE into the jails and prisons to take custody of illegals once the locals have finished with them," Krikorian told Fox News Digital. "That's not ending enforcement – that's returning enforcement to the ways it's always been done and the way it's being done even now in non-sanctuary jurisdictions."
On Monday, President Trump said that "Tim Walz called [him] with the request to work together," calling it a "very good call" in a post on his platform Truth social.
"I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future. He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!" Trump continued in his post, writing, "We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have ‘touched’ and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!"
Walz subsequently indicated that President Trump had agreed during the call to consider pulling out some federal agents from Minnesota, so long as Minnesota leaders follow federal immigration detainers and ensure criminal illegal aliens in state custody are transferred to federal officials. Trump's reported consideration to pull ICE officials out of Minnesota comes after Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey used harsh language, and sometimes expletives, to tell ICE to "get the f--- out" of their city and state.
ANIT-ICE MOBS BANKROLLED BY ‘SHADOWY INTERESTS’ PUTTING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN DANGER, CEO WARNS
Federal law enforcement agents detain a demonstrator during a raid in south Minneapolis, Minnesota. An Oklahoma man is charged with threatening to kill ICE agents, "MAGA Republicans" and politicians, the Justice Department said Wednesday. (Getty Images)
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Amid news of federal agents potentially pulling out of Minnesota, questions began swirling about the status of top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovion, who was tapped by the Trump administration to lead Border Patrol's large-scale operations like the one occurring in Minnesota.
"Chief Gregory Bovino has NOT been relieved of his duties. As press secretary Leavitt stated from the White House podium, Gregory Bovino is a key part of the President’s team and a great American," Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Monday.
But multiple federal sources confirmed to Fox News' Bil Melugin that Bovino's position called "Commander of at large operations" has now ended for him. He will now return to his prior duties leading border security efforts in California's El Centro sector.
Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, will be traveling to Minnesota soon to continue the border security efforts there in place of Bovino.
Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/conservative-immigration-experts-split-whether-trump-backing-down-mn-ice-fight